Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUJA79
2010-01-22 15:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010
how-toVZCZCXRO5358 OO RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0079/01 0221508 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O R 221508Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0048 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0043 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0016
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EAID SOCI NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010
REF: EMAIL:FW: First Draft of Thurday Cable on Jos
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EAID SOCI NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010
REF: EMAIL:FW: First Draft of Thurday Cable on Jos
1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of recent
political, economic, and social developments not previously
reported.
-------------- --------------
ELECTION MONITOR REQUESTS MORE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Attorney Chinelo Iriele, one of ten monitors recently
appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
for the February 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra, told
Political Officer January 15 that the group's first briefing
occurred January 14 in Abuja, at which INEC officials briefed
monitors on voter lists, poll locations, procedures, and plans for
the election. At the briefing, she said, the Nigeria Police Force
(NPF) impressed her with its planning for the election, leaving her
more reassured afterwards that a plan existed to deal with election
tampering, violence, and civil disobedience. Iriele urged that the
U.S. and other international missions send observers to the
election and that they arrive at least one day early to attend an
official observer briefing. (N.B.: The U.S. Mission has requested
official accreditation for its team of observers; other missions,
including those of Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, may send
informal observers. END NOTE). According to Iriele, committee
members feel pressure to ensure the Anambra election will be free
and fair, aware of implications for the 2011 national elections.
--------------
KIDNAPPERS NAB BABY OF PRESIDENT'S STAFF
--------------
3. (SBU) Kidnappers targeted a member of the Presidential staff
January 19 when they abducted the four-month-old baby of the
Presidential Aircraft Fleet Commander Air Commodore Aminu Adamu,
according to the press. A group of robbers kidnapped the child at
the family home in Abuja and demanded a ransom of 20 million naira
(about 130,000 U.S. dollars) from the parents. The Air Commodore
was in Saudi Arabia at the time, where President Yar'Adua remains
under treatment. Later that night, the baby's mother telephoned
family, friends, and security who held a vigil at the home.
Abductors returned the child unharmed after the family paid an
undisclosed sum.
--------------
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
--------------
4. (U) The Mission sponsored events in Abuja and Lagos to honor the
memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The
Consulate General Public Affairs Section (PAS) and the First
Baptist Church hosted 250 guests January 14 at a program on
"Non-Violence as a Force For Social Change," which focused on
Mahatma Gandhi's influence on Dr. King. Footage of a student
workshop on how not to react to violence resonated with the
audience, which remained sensitive about terrorism accusations
after the failed attack on a U.S. airliner December 25. Embassy
PAS and the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni
Association hosted about 300 high school students and faculty
January 15 for a "Youth Leadership Development Forum," which
ABUJA 00000079 002 OF 003
honored the legacies of Dr. King and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who both
worked for understanding and who both died for their activism and
beliefs. The Embassy sponsored a roundtable on "The Role of the
Citizen in Education" January 19 to celebrate Dr. King's life and
legacy, featuring keynote speakers from top Education Ministry
officials and academics, most of whom had participated in U.S. ILVP
programs. The audience included 26 guests from education and legal
sectors, non-governmental organizations, and international
institutions. Speeches elicited passionate responses challenging
the "status quo" in Nigeria. All events received positive media
coverage.
--------------
NIGERIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY
--------------
5. (SBU) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in
Nigeria supported dissemination of the 2008 Nigerian Demographic
and Health Survey (NDHS) in five states during the past month.
(N.B.: The AFR Weekly of December 10 provided a short summary of
the NDHS. END NOTE.) USAID personnel worked with GON presenters
to ensure objective and accurate presentations of the findings
(which included dismal results in several key states) to encourage
frank discussions with policy makers. USAID staff urged that
political, religious, and traditional leaders address the
disappointing health indicators detected by the Survey. USAID
personnel will continue to work with other donors and federal
health agencies to improve the health of Nigerians.
--------------
USAID ROLE FOLLOWING JOS CONFLICT
--------------
6. (SBU) For the second time in 15 months, violence engulfed Jos in
north-central Plateau State. A Conflict Mitigation and Management
Regional Council (CMMRC) (Inter-Religious Council) established by
USAID worked closely with government officials and security
personnel to restore calm. CMMRC broadcast media jingles, focusing
on youth, who had committed most of the destruction, to stabilize
the situation. USAID-funded Councils in neighboring Kano and
Kaduna states held meetings and liaised with security and
government agencies to prevent the spread of violence to their
jurisdictions. Mission will continue to monitor the situation.
--------------
POWER PLANT STALLED
--------------
7. (SBU) Contour Global Executive Vice President Lee Muller
expressed frustration January 22 to Lagos Consul General, Foreign
Commercial Counselor, and Economic Officer over a power project
that his company is building for Nigeria Bottling. This
"in-the-fence" power project, designed to supply electricity to a
bottling plant, is shovel-ready and can be completed in six to
eight months. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
(NERC),however, has yet to issue an operating permit to Contour.
Muller indicated that NERC has continued to ask "never-ending"
questions during the past five months. At one point, NERC
officials transmitted an electronic-mail message giving Contour the
go-ahead for construction but indicating that approval for
operations would come later. Given that the e-mail did not
constitute an official letter, Contour did not act on it. Contour,
which recently completed a power plant in Togo that won a "project
ABUJA 00000079 003 OF 003
of the year" award from the European Union, risks losing 10 million
dollars. Contour has several additional projects under
consideration, including power projects for three Coca Cola plans
in Lagos, Ikeja, and Benin City.
SANDERS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EAID SOCI NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010
REF: EMAIL:FW: First Draft of Thurday Cable on Jos
1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of recent
political, economic, and social developments not previously
reported.
-------------- --------------
ELECTION MONITOR REQUESTS MORE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Attorney Chinelo Iriele, one of ten monitors recently
appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
for the February 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra, told
Political Officer January 15 that the group's first briefing
occurred January 14 in Abuja, at which INEC officials briefed
monitors on voter lists, poll locations, procedures, and plans for
the election. At the briefing, she said, the Nigeria Police Force
(NPF) impressed her with its planning for the election, leaving her
more reassured afterwards that a plan existed to deal with election
tampering, violence, and civil disobedience. Iriele urged that the
U.S. and other international missions send observers to the
election and that they arrive at least one day early to attend an
official observer briefing. (N.B.: The U.S. Mission has requested
official accreditation for its team of observers; other missions,
including those of Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, may send
informal observers. END NOTE). According to Iriele, committee
members feel pressure to ensure the Anambra election will be free
and fair, aware of implications for the 2011 national elections.
--------------
KIDNAPPERS NAB BABY OF PRESIDENT'S STAFF
--------------
3. (SBU) Kidnappers targeted a member of the Presidential staff
January 19 when they abducted the four-month-old baby of the
Presidential Aircraft Fleet Commander Air Commodore Aminu Adamu,
according to the press. A group of robbers kidnapped the child at
the family home in Abuja and demanded a ransom of 20 million naira
(about 130,000 U.S. dollars) from the parents. The Air Commodore
was in Saudi Arabia at the time, where President Yar'Adua remains
under treatment. Later that night, the baby's mother telephoned
family, friends, and security who held a vigil at the home.
Abductors returned the child unharmed after the family paid an
undisclosed sum.
--------------
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
--------------
4. (U) The Mission sponsored events in Abuja and Lagos to honor the
memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The
Consulate General Public Affairs Section (PAS) and the First
Baptist Church hosted 250 guests January 14 at a program on
"Non-Violence as a Force For Social Change," which focused on
Mahatma Gandhi's influence on Dr. King. Footage of a student
workshop on how not to react to violence resonated with the
audience, which remained sensitive about terrorism accusations
after the failed attack on a U.S. airliner December 25. Embassy
PAS and the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni
Association hosted about 300 high school students and faculty
January 15 for a "Youth Leadership Development Forum," which
ABUJA 00000079 002 OF 003
honored the legacies of Dr. King and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who both
worked for understanding and who both died for their activism and
beliefs. The Embassy sponsored a roundtable on "The Role of the
Citizen in Education" January 19 to celebrate Dr. King's life and
legacy, featuring keynote speakers from top Education Ministry
officials and academics, most of whom had participated in U.S. ILVP
programs. The audience included 26 guests from education and legal
sectors, non-governmental organizations, and international
institutions. Speeches elicited passionate responses challenging
the "status quo" in Nigeria. All events received positive media
coverage.
--------------
NIGERIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY
--------------
5. (SBU) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in
Nigeria supported dissemination of the 2008 Nigerian Demographic
and Health Survey (NDHS) in five states during the past month.
(N.B.: The AFR Weekly of December 10 provided a short summary of
the NDHS. END NOTE.) USAID personnel worked with GON presenters
to ensure objective and accurate presentations of the findings
(which included dismal results in several key states) to encourage
frank discussions with policy makers. USAID staff urged that
political, religious, and traditional leaders address the
disappointing health indicators detected by the Survey. USAID
personnel will continue to work with other donors and federal
health agencies to improve the health of Nigerians.
--------------
USAID ROLE FOLLOWING JOS CONFLICT
--------------
6. (SBU) For the second time in 15 months, violence engulfed Jos in
north-central Plateau State. A Conflict Mitigation and Management
Regional Council (CMMRC) (Inter-Religious Council) established by
USAID worked closely with government officials and security
personnel to restore calm. CMMRC broadcast media jingles, focusing
on youth, who had committed most of the destruction, to stabilize
the situation. USAID-funded Councils in neighboring Kano and
Kaduna states held meetings and liaised with security and
government agencies to prevent the spread of violence to their
jurisdictions. Mission will continue to monitor the situation.
--------------
POWER PLANT STALLED
--------------
7. (SBU) Contour Global Executive Vice President Lee Muller
expressed frustration January 22 to Lagos Consul General, Foreign
Commercial Counselor, and Economic Officer over a power project
that his company is building for Nigeria Bottling. This
"in-the-fence" power project, designed to supply electricity to a
bottling plant, is shovel-ready and can be completed in six to
eight months. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
(NERC),however, has yet to issue an operating permit to Contour.
Muller indicated that NERC has continued to ask "never-ending"
questions during the past five months. At one point, NERC
officials transmitted an electronic-mail message giving Contour the
go-ahead for construction but indicating that approval for
operations would come later. Given that the e-mail did not
constitute an official letter, Contour did not act on it. Contour,
which recently completed a power plant in Togo that won a "project
ABUJA 00000079 003 OF 003
of the year" award from the European Union, risks losing 10 million
dollars. Contour has several additional projects under
consideration, including power projects for three Coca Cola plans
in Lagos, Ikeja, and Benin City.
SANDERS